Stackable table service

ABSTRACT

A stackable table service comprising at least two groups of mutually uniform service items, such as plates, each having an integral bottom and rim, the rims of the items of one group fitting over the rims of the items of the other group to allow alternate interlocking stacking.

United States Patent von der Osten 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] STACKABLE TABLESERVICE [72] Inventor: Henning von der Osten, Margrethevej 9,

2900 Hellerup, Denmark [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 861,702

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 30, 1968 Denmark ..4710/68[52] US. Cl. ..220/23.83, 220/97 R [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 21/02 [58] Fieldof Search ..220/97 R, 97 B, 23.83, 23.86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,857 1/ 1966 McCormick..220/97 B 3,257,024 6/ l 966 Semanchik ..220/23.83

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FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 76,440 1900 Great Britain.....220/2333 586,919 4/1947 GreatBritain.....

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Lane, Aitken, Dunner &Ziems [57] ABSTRACT A stackable table service comprising at least twogroups of mutually uniform service items, such as plates, each having anintegral bottom and rim, the rims of the items of one group fitting overthe rims of the items of the other group to allow alternate interlockingstacking.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUFEB 15 I972 3,642,165

sum [1F 3 W JIWW ATTORNEY STACKABLE TABLE SERVICE This invention relatesto a stackable table service. More particularly, this invention relatesto a stackable table service in which the items of the service may bestacked or used with either terminal surface turned upwardly.

With the conventional design of table services hitherto used, e.g.,plates, sideplates, cups andsaucers, the different types of items makingup the service usually are stored and distributed separately, e.g.,dinner plates by themselves, soup plates by themselves, cups andsaucers, respectively, by themselves. The present inventlon is basedupon the realization that this principle entails certain disadvantageswhich it is possible to avoid by means of a special design and mutualadaptation of the individual service items, whereby it has been madepossible to expedite and simplify the storing of the service, the layingof the table, the serving and collecting.

According to the invention, a stackable service comprises two sets ofservice items, in which the individual items are constituted of acircumferential rim with plane terminal edges and an integral bottom andare adapted to each other in such a way that the rim on the items in theone set is of a lower height than the rim on the items in the other setand has an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of therims of the items of said other set. As will be explained in greaterdetail in the following, it becomes hereby possible to stack the itemsalternately in such a way for instance, that the dinner and soup plateforming part of each cover can be taken and placed on the table togetherand that it becomes possible, prior to the distribution, to serve atleast a part of the meal without the courses in question being adverselyaffected thereby. Due to the design and adaption stated of the itemsmaking up the service it is, furthermore, possible to achieve a betterutilization of each individual service item by turning the same andusing both sides.

It is possible for the stacking to become particularly stable,

by the rims on the items of the first set according to the inventionfitting around the rims of the items of the second set with only a smallclearance, so that the items may be stored in tall stacks withoutrisking that the stacks overturn or rattle when shaken.

In order to ensure a good grip on the individual service items, acircumferential rib may be disposed on the outside of the rim of theitems in the second set according to the invention, preferably withsubstantially the same external contour and diameter as the rims of theitems in the first set or, possibly, a circumferential rib disposedthereupon.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing by means of some embodimentexamples, in which FIG. 1 shows partly diagrammatically and partly insection a part of a stack of two sets of plates according to theinvention,

FIGS. 2a2h various arrangements of these while in use, and

FIG. 3 shows part of a stack of two sets of cup-shaped service items.

The stack of plates shown in FIG. 1 comprises plates of two differentforms, I and 2, respectively, placed alternately in a stack of anydesired height. The individual plates each consist of a substantiallycylindrical rim 3 and a substantially flat bottom 4 which joins the rimat a mutuall different distance from the plane terminal edges of theplates. The rim of the individual plates in the set designated with 1 issomewhat lower than the rim of the plates in the set designated with 2and has an internal diameter which is slightly bigger than the externaldiameter of the rim on the plates of the set 2. On the outside of therim on the plates in set 2 there is disposed, as shown, a gripping rib5, the outermost edge of which possesses substantially the same shapeand diameteras the rim on the plates in the set I.

It appears from FIG. 1 that the plates stacked in this manner form astable stack which requires little space, from which the plates can betaken two at a time and can be placed directly on the table when same isbeing laid. It is, however, also possible to servea course in advance inthe soup plate which is formed by the upper side of the plates in theset 2 and to leave the stack of plates stand in this state, at any ratefor some time,

since the meal served will remain hot because the surface having accessto the air is covered and the air trapped between the plates will act inan insulating manner and will heat the subjacent plate. By this means,it will be possible to expedite and rationalize the preparation and theserving of the first course to a large party or under canteenconditions.

It appears from FIG. 2 that the plates shown can be arranged in manydifferent ways in relation to each other by turning and changing, sothat at least four different courses may be served and consumed withoutthe necessity of changing the service. It is thus possible, merely byturning and interchanging the two plates shown to provide one soupplate, one dining plate of the same size, one somewhat larger shallowplate and one flatter plate of the same size without any risk of thetable being dirtied and without any need for using separate coveringplates.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the items in both sets are designedwith a rim of substantial height in relation to the diameter to providea cup 20 with a gripping flange 5 and a corresponding beaker-shapedsaucer 10 with a gripping flange 6. The saucer, as appears from FIG. 3,constitutes a heat-insulating cap around the lowermost part of the cup20 and thereby acts to maintain the temperature of a drink poured intothe cup constant for as long as possible.

It is also possible, within the scope of the invention, to use a muchlower, almost plate-shaped saucer instead of the beakershaped saucershown in FIG. 3.

The stackable service according to the invention may be constructed ofany suitable materials such as porcelain, faience, plastic, wood orstainless steel or of combinations of such materials. The individualservice items do'not have to be circular in plan view, but may, as knownper se, possess any desired shape within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A stackable table service comprising at least a first set and asecond set of substantially identical table service items in each ofsaid first set and said second set respectively, wherein at least aportion of said first set is capable of nesting with at least a portionof said second set, each of said items of said first and said secondsets comprising:

a circumferential rim having substantially planar upperand lowerterminal edge portions so that the item of each of said first and saidsecond sets may be used with either terminal edge portion turnedupwardly,

a bottom integral with said rim, the bottom of at least said first setbeing disposed intermediate the edge portions of the rim to define atleast a pair of inner substantially planar terminal surfaces on saidrim, said planar surfaces being substantially aligned on opposite sidesof said bottom, the rim of each item of the second set defining at leasta pair of outer substantially aligned planar surface portions, and

wherein the rim of each item of the first set is of a lesser totalheight than the height of the rim of each item of the second set, theinner terminal surfaces of the rim of each item of said first set beingadapted to nest with a small clearance with either of the outer surfaceportions of said second set so that said first set and said second setare thus adapted to be stacked with either planar edge portion of eitherset turned upwardly.

2. The stackable table surface as claimed in claim 1,

wherein each of the items of said second set is provided on the whereinthe rim of said plate has a height which is small relative to thediameter thereof. 4. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1,wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and saidsecond set projects for different distances from either side of thebottom thereof.

5 The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim ofthe item of at least one of said first set and said second set issubstantially circular in cross section and has a height of the sameorder of magnitude as the diameter of the bottom thereof.

6. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein theheights of the rims of the items of both sets are approximately the sameas the diameter of the items, and the rims of both sets aresubstantially circular in cross section.

7. The stackable tableservice as claimed in claim 1, comprising aplurality of said first and said second sets.

8. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ribis located on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair ofinner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for adistance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planar terminaledge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as thedistance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set anda terminal edge portion thereof.

9. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ribis located on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair ofinner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for adistance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planarterminaledge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as thedistance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set anda terminal edge portion thereof.

1. A stackable table service comprising at least a first set and asecond set of substantially identical table service items in each ofsaid first set and said second set respectively, wherein at least aportion of said first set is capable of nesting with at least a portionof said second set, each of said items of said first and said secondsets comprising: a circumferential rim having substantially planar upperand lower terminal edge portions so that the item of each of said firstand said second sets may be used with either terminal edge portionturned upwardly, a bottom integral with said rim, the bottom of at leastsaid first set being disposed intermediate the edge portions of the rimto define at least a pair of inner substantially planar terminalsurfaces on said rim, said planar surfaces being substantially alignedon opposite sides of said bottom, the rim of each item of the second setdefining at least a pair of outer substantially aligned planar sUrfaceportions, and wherein the rim of each item of the first set is of alesser total height than the height of the rim of each item of thesecond set, the inner terminal surfaces of the rim of each item of saidfirst set being adapted to nest with a small clearance with either ofthe outer surface portions of said second set so that said first set andsaid second set are thus adapted to be stacked with either planar edgeportion of either set turned upwardly.
 2. The stackable table surface asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of the items of said second set isprovided on the outer surface of its rim with a rib disposedsubstantially perpendicularly thereto and having an outer contourcorresponding to the outer contour of the circumferential rim of an itemof said first set.
 3. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1,wherein the item of at least one of said first set and said second setis a plate and wherein said bottom is substantially planar and whereinthe rim of said plate has a height which is small relative to thediameter thereof.
 4. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1,wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and saidsecond set projects for different distances from either side of thebottom thereof.
 5. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1,wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and saidsecond set is substantially circular in cross section and has a heightof the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the bottom thereof. 6.The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heightsof the rims of the items of both sets are approximately the same as thediameter of the items, and the rims of both sets are substantiallycircular in cross section.
 7. The stackable table service as claimed inclaim 1, comprising a plurality of said first and said second sets. 8.The stackable table service as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib islocated on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair ofinner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for adistance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planar terminaledge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as thedistance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set anda terminal edge portion thereof.
 9. The stackable table service asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said rib is located on the item of saidsecond set and wherein one of the pair of inner terminal surfaces on therim of said first set extends for a distance between a surface of saidbottom to one of the planar terminal edge portions thereof, saiddistance being substantially the same as the distance between a surfaceon the rib of the item of the second set and a terminal edge portionthereof.